The Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo enters a crowded market of beginner-friendly multicolor 3D printers, but it has one feature that immediately separates it from many similarly priced machines: the included ACE 2 Pro can actively dry four filament spools at up to 65°C while the printer is running.
At the time of publication, Anycubic lists the Combo at $379, down from a stated $499 regular price. The company is also offering selected 4 kg filament packs for $9.90 with the printer, including PETG, PLA+, and PLA Special options when purchased directly from their website. That makes the launch bundle much more interesting than the printer price alone.
This is a buying analysis based on Anycubic’s published specifications and independent hands-on testing. We have not personally tested this printer yet, so we will separate verified specifications from manufacturer claims and third-party test findings.
Updated July 22, 2026. Prices and promotional bundles can change. Confirm the final price and included extras in your cart before ordering.
Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo specifications
| Feature | Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 260 × 260 × 260 mm |
| Multicolor printing | 4 colors included; expandable to 8 with a second ACE 2 Pro |
| Filament drying | Active drying up to 65°C, including drying while printing |
| Recommended print speed | 300 mm/s |
| Maximum advertised speed | 600 mm/s |
| Maximum acceleration | 20,000 mm/s² |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm hardened steel; quick-release design |
| Maximum nozzle temperature | 300°C |
| Maximum bed temperature | 100°C |
| Build plate | PEI spring-steel plate |
| Leveling | LeviQ 3.0, 49-point automatic leveling and automatic Z offset |
| Camera | 720p monitoring camera with AI failure detection |
| Connectivity | USB, dual-band Wi-Fi, LAN, Anycubic Slicer, and Anycubic app |
| Supported materials | PLA, PETG, and TPU by direct feed; TPU is not compatible with the ACE 2 Pro |
What makes the Kobra 4 Combo different?
The printer itself is a modern open-frame bed slinger with the automation most buyers now expect: automatic leveling, automatic Z-offset adjustment, flow calibration, vibration compensation, filament runout detection, power-loss recovery, and a removable PEI build plate.
The more important part of the package is the ACE 2 Pro. It feeds four colors automatically, monitors temperature and humidity, estimates remaining filament, supports automatic spool refill, and can dry material while printing. That last feature is genuinely useful for PETG and other filament that begins stringing or bubbling after absorbing moisture.
For a deeper explanation of why drying and storage are not the same thing, see our guide to filament dryers versus dry boxes. You can also use our filament drying temperature and time guide when setting up new spools.
Is the Kobra 4 Combo easy for beginners?
On paper, yes. Anycubic says the machine can be assembled and ready to print in about 15 minutes. The initial calibration handles bed leveling, Z offset, vibration compensation, flow behavior, and noise tuning rather than expecting a new owner to adjust each setting manually.
An independent Tom’s Hardware test also found the printer quick to assemble, quiet in operation, and easier to load than the earlier ACE generation. The reviewer reported that the ACE 2 Pro’s individual feeders were a major improvement over the original ACE Pro and that the printer produced good PLA, PETG, and directly fed TPU results.
That makes the Kobra 4 Combo far more approachable than the old kind of budget printer that required manual bed leveling, repeated Z-offset changes, and a pile of upgrades. Beginners should still learn basic filament and slicer concepts, but the machine should remove much of the mechanical busywork.
New to the hobby? Start with our guide to what you actually need to begin 3D printing rather than buying a cart full of unnecessary tools.
Print speed and build volume
The Kobra 4 Combo has a 260 × 260 × 260 mm build area. That is large enough for helmets printed in sections, household organizers, classroom projects, toys, signs, replacement parts, and batches of smaller pieces without turning the machine into an oversized workshop printer.
Anycubic recommends 300 mm/s and advertises a 600 mm/s maximum with acceleration up to 20,000 mm/s². Those top numbers are useful for short travel moves and speed-focused profiles, but buyers should not expect every model to print cleanly at the maximum advertised rate. Geometry, layer height, material, cooling, and hotend flow still determine real print speed.
The biggest advantages
Four-color printing and drying are included
Many multicolor systems simply hold filament. The ACE 2 Pro can actively dry it, which reduces the need to buy a separate four-spool dryer and helps keep PETG printing consistently.
The current launch bundle is unusually aggressive
A $379 printer-and-ACE package is already competitive. Adding selected 4 kg filament packs for $9.90 lowers the practical startup cost even further. The deal is promotional, so verify that the selected filament and discount appear in the cart.
The hardened-steel nozzle is ready for more wear
The included hardened-steel nozzle should last longer than a basic brass nozzle and is a better starting point for mildly abrasive filled filaments. The quick-release hotend also makes maintenance and nozzle swaps less annoying.
LAN mode is available
The printer supports both cloud-connected features and local network operation. That is a meaningful option for users who want remote control without depending entirely on a manufacturer cloud service.
The biggest drawbacks
Color changes are slower and create more waste than the Kobra X
The Kobra 4 Combo uses an external ACE 2 Pro with longer filament paths. Independent testing found slow filament swaps and meaningful purge waste during multicolor printing. The Kobra X places its color-switching hardware closer to the nozzle, so it is the better Anycubic choice when minimizing color-change time and waste is the main priority.
The full setup takes substantial desk space
The printer body is not tiny, and the ACE 2 Pro sits beside it. Add room for moving filament tubes and bed travel before deciding where it will live. Measure the actual work surface rather than checking only the build volume.
TPU cannot run through the ACE 2 Pro
Anycubic lists TPU as supported only through direct feeding. Flexible filament must bypass the multicolor unit, which makes switching between normal multicolor printing and TPU less convenient.
It is still an open-frame printer
The Kobra 4 Combo is best suited to PLA, PETG, and directly fed TPU. Buyers planning frequent ABS, ASA, nylon, or other warp-prone materials should choose an enclosed printer with appropriate ventilation instead.
The camera is functional, not premium
The 720p camera is useful for checking a print and enabling AI failure detection, but it is not a major reason to buy the printer if high-quality timelapses are important.
Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo vs Kobra X
The Kobra 4 Combo and Kobra X have similar build volumes and advertised speed limits, but they serve different buyers.
- Choose the Kobra 4 Combo when you want an enclosed four-spool system that actively dries filament while printing.
- Choose the Kobra X when faster color changes, lower purge waste, a smaller overall footprint, and greater future color expansion matter more.
The current Kobra 4 Combo bundle can still be the better total value for a humid room or anyone who would otherwise buy a separate multi-spool dryer. That is the real reason to choose it—not because its color-changing system is the most efficient.
Who should buy the Kobra 4 Combo?
Buy it if you:
- want automatic four-color printing for toys, signs, models, or classroom projects;
- regularly print PETG and want active drying built into the filament system;
- want a larger-than-average 260 mm build area;
- prefer automatic leveling and calibration over manual tuning;
- can get the $379 price and discounted filament bundle.
Skip it if you:
- want the lowest possible purge waste;
- need a compact multicolor system;
- mainly print flexible TPU through an automatic material system;
- need an enclosure for ABS, ASA, or nylon;
- value the most mature software and community ecosystem over the included dryer.
You can compare the broader market in our guides to the best beginner 3D printers, the best 3D printers under $500, and the current Bambu Lab printer lineup.
Final verdict: Is the Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo worth it?
Yes—at $379, the Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo is worth considering for buyers who specifically want multicolor printing and active filament drying in the same budget package. The large build area, automatic calibration, quiet operation, hardened-steel nozzle, network options, and ACE 2 Pro make it a capable first or second printer.
It is not the automatic winner for every multicolor buyer. The Kobra X has a more efficient filament-switching architecture, and Bambu Lab remains the safer choice for shoppers who prioritize a more established ecosystem. The Kobra 4 Combo’s strongest argument is simpler: it gives you a competent four-color printer and a useful four-spool active dryer for less than many competitors charge for the printer system alone.
The current 4 kg filament promotion makes the package especially compelling, but treat that as a temporary bonus rather than the foundation of the purchase decision.
Frequently asked questions
How many colors can the Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo print?
The included ACE 2 Pro supports four-color printing. Adding a second compatible ACE 2 Pro and the required connection hardware expands the printer to eight colors.
Does the ACE 2 Pro dry filament while printing?
Yes. The ACE 2 Pro supports active drying at up to 65°C and can continue drying filament while the printer is operating.
Can the Kobra 4 Combo print TPU?
Yes, but TPU must be fed directly to the printer. Anycubic states that TPU 95A is not compatible with the ACE 2 Pro multicolor feed system.
What materials can the Kobra 4 Combo print?
Anycubic officially lists PLA, PETG, and TPU. Because the printer is open-frame, it is not the best default choice for materials that benefit from a heated enclosure.
Is the Kobra 4 Combo better than the Kobra X?
Not across the board. The Kobra 4 Combo is better for buyers who want active four-spool drying. The Kobra X is better when faster color changes, less purge waste, a more compact setup, and greater color expansion are the priorities.
Is the Anycubic Kobra 4 Combo good for beginners?
It appears beginner-friendly because it includes automatic leveling, automatic Z offset, flow and vibration calibration, a touchscreen, remote control, and a nearly assembled setup. Beginners should still expect a learning curve around slicing, supports, filament behavior, and multicolor purge settings.